Invasion of the Soviet Union ("Operation Barbarossa")
The German invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1942 was code-named “Operation Barbarossa”. This was the largest German military operation of WWII. The invasion began on June 22, 1941, after long delay and planning. Nazi Germany’s main goal was the permanent elimination of the threat of Communism that existed in the Soviet Union. Also, the Soviet lands were very ideal for Germany and they had planned to take those lands since the 1920’s. Even though Hitler had signed a German-Soviet nonaggression pact in August 23, 1939, he did not intend to keep it and merely used it as a tactical maneuver. On December 18, 1940, Hitler signed the first operational order for the invasion of the Soviet Union. This invasion would later allow Hitler to conquer the farthest geographical location he ever took in his plan to dominate Europe. Hitler also wanted to eliminate all the Jewish people on the Soviet Union, whom he considered as forming the “racial basis” for the Communist state.
On June 22, 1941, German forces invaded the Soviet Union. Three Army groups supported by Finland and Romania, Germany’s Allies, attacked the Soviet Union from the Baltic Sea in the north and the Black Sea in the south. In total, over four million Axis soldiers invaded, their numbers increased by the addition of troops from Italy, Croatia, Slovakia and Hungary. Due to the fact that the Soviet authorities refused to heed the warnings from the Western Powers of the German troop buildup along its western border, Germany and its Axis partners had the advantage of surprise. The Soviet armies were overwhelmed and German units surrounded Soviet soldiers who were forced to surrender since they were cut off from supplies and reinforcements.
As the German troops advanced deeper into Soviet land, they established intelligence networks and secured key documentation and facilities. They also initiated mobile killing units to concentrate and mass-murder primarily male Jews, Communist Party and State officials and Soviet Roma (gypsies). Later, as Germany’s actions proved to be successful, Hitler deported German Jews to the Soviet Union to be annihilated, starting what would become “Final Solution” policy.
Despite the fact that the Soviet Union was much larger than Germany both geographically and militarily, Hitler thought that the country would collapse quickly. However, even after much loss in the Soviet state, it still failed to collapse even after six weeks. By mid-August 1941, Soviet resistance began to increase, delaying Germany’s victory. Still, by late September 1941, German forces reached the gates of Leningrad in the north. Despite some setbacks, German units reached Moscow in early December.
Fortunately for the Soviet Union, the Germans anticipated a much quicker victory and therefore their troops were not trained for winter warfare in the frigid winter weather. Without shelter, adequate winter clothing, and enough food, they would lose millions to death. This provided a chance for a Soviet counterattack on the front that ran from Berlin to Moscow on December 6, 1941. The ambush drove the Germans back from Moscow and it became a few weeks before the Germans were able to stand firm again.
Operation Barbarossa was a significant military operation because before this operation, the Axis powers were unstoppable. If Germany didn’t turn on the Soviet Union, the Axis would still have been very powerful. While the Soviet Union’s Red Army had greater losses, since the German forces failed to defeat the Soviet Union, it marked a significant setback for Germany.
On June 22, 1941, German forces invaded the Soviet Union. Three Army groups supported by Finland and Romania, Germany’s Allies, attacked the Soviet Union from the Baltic Sea in the north and the Black Sea in the south. In total, over four million Axis soldiers invaded, their numbers increased by the addition of troops from Italy, Croatia, Slovakia and Hungary. Due to the fact that the Soviet authorities refused to heed the warnings from the Western Powers of the German troop buildup along its western border, Germany and its Axis partners had the advantage of surprise. The Soviet armies were overwhelmed and German units surrounded Soviet soldiers who were forced to surrender since they were cut off from supplies and reinforcements.
As the German troops advanced deeper into Soviet land, they established intelligence networks and secured key documentation and facilities. They also initiated mobile killing units to concentrate and mass-murder primarily male Jews, Communist Party and State officials and Soviet Roma (gypsies). Later, as Germany’s actions proved to be successful, Hitler deported German Jews to the Soviet Union to be annihilated, starting what would become “Final Solution” policy.
Despite the fact that the Soviet Union was much larger than Germany both geographically and militarily, Hitler thought that the country would collapse quickly. However, even after much loss in the Soviet state, it still failed to collapse even after six weeks. By mid-August 1941, Soviet resistance began to increase, delaying Germany’s victory. Still, by late September 1941, German forces reached the gates of Leningrad in the north. Despite some setbacks, German units reached Moscow in early December.
Fortunately for the Soviet Union, the Germans anticipated a much quicker victory and therefore their troops were not trained for winter warfare in the frigid winter weather. Without shelter, adequate winter clothing, and enough food, they would lose millions to death. This provided a chance for a Soviet counterattack on the front that ran from Berlin to Moscow on December 6, 1941. The ambush drove the Germans back from Moscow and it became a few weeks before the Germans were able to stand firm again.
Operation Barbarossa was a significant military operation because before this operation, the Axis powers were unstoppable. If Germany didn’t turn on the Soviet Union, the Axis would still have been very powerful. While the Soviet Union’s Red Army had greater losses, since the German forces failed to defeat the Soviet Union, it marked a significant setback for Germany.